How to break your child’s bad habits

Thumb sucking and nail biting are just a few bad habits many children pick up either at school, in the playground or when spending time with their friends. Here at Tutor Doctor we know how important it is for you as parents to get rid of your kid’s bad habits. However, with studies from the American Academy of Pediatrics showing that many children are completely unaware of their actions, it’s may not be as easy as you first think. That’s why we’ve come up with some ways that you can start helping them lose their unwanted behaviours for good!

Praise and Reward

Praising and rewarding your children when they engage in good habits over their bad ones is a great place to start. By letting them know that their good behaviour was noticed, it will not only boost their mood but also make them realise that they will be rewarded for engaging in good habits.

Have Patience!

Always have patience and never expect bad habits to vanish overnight. Your child will most likely need time to understand and adjust their behaviour which may not be the easiest task for them. Always be kind, considerate and never rush them!

Catch the habits whilst your child is young

As many adults know, as you get older bad habits are much harder to break. Even though some habits may fade as your child gets older, some are likely to stick. Trying to get your child to understand what is considered right and wrong/good or bad in their early days will help them develop the appropriate values, habits and behaviour from a young age.

Educating

Educating your child about why their bad habits are considered unhealthy is super important. Once they are consciously aware of these reasons, it will be much easier for them to try to break them altogether.

Find the root cause

Some kids will practice unwanted behaviours because they are stressed or have something on their mind. It’s important to talk to your child and try to identify the reason causing their stress. Listening to their problems and showing love and support will be sure to help them banish their bad habits.

Tackle one at a time!

It’s common for kids to have more than one bad habit, meaning you may have a long road ahead! Don’t worry- just tackle one at a time, as trying to deal with them all at once will not only be stressful for you but for your child as well! Remember, always stay calm and discuss the problems/solutions with your child in the privacy of your own home.